Process and apparatus for the application of covers to bottles and like containers



W. PECHMANN PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE APPLICATION TO BOTTLES AND LIKE CONTAINERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 :Nr wmm .IM 1 NW 6 E M V 6 W K 0 5 M l l (L fa. IL .0 5 W C y B Q AM 5 M3 a w b 0 [.J/ u M V A i u a p 7 5 M 00 M w/ 5 m 5 2 w B M Oct. 6, 1964 OF COVERS Filed May 22, 1961 A rramvey Oct. 6, 1964 W. PECHMANN APPA PROCESS AND RATUS FOR THE APPLICATION OF COVERS TO BOTTLES AND LIKE CONTAINERS Filed May 22 y 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 P M Q 1 a M IK M b fl 7 P 0.. a. 5 g M P H In H. n w m .///m I ..l.| 3 w Wu M M! 3 m l i a m M 1:.-.4' .lwlim u 5 0 1.! x i I .4 .5 fi I A 1 ll I 3 2 kw VAAHAAL .w B lrl... I! (/l A\\ a M B m B 6 5 a w m 0 3 2 T 5 xfiw/w w a 2 .F 5 w m 1 3 a U .6 0 a 7 .3 In. w nuhwnnnn \.e. 5 4 w Q A z p B m 2 2 7|. r. M 3 L M .n 5 al/14.91%? r 7 Sheets-Sheet I5 W. PECHMANN PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE APPLICATION OF COVERS TO BOTTLES AND LIKE CONTAINERS Oct. 6, 1964 Filed May 22, 1961 B B 6 5 Z 2 5 0 2 5 a \WOHH- Afll /5 m w B D Oct. 6, 1964 w. PECHMANN 3,151,426 PROCESS AND APPARATU OF COVERS TO BOTTLE S FOR THE APPLICATION S AND LIKE CONTAINERS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 22, 1961 I alllllllll i-i'wliwlll llu n...

IN VE NT OP.- Arm/em PECHHAM/V By rlwHQtL S- Sh d'vm Oct. 6, 1964 w. PECHMANN PROCESS AND APPA RATUS FOR THE APPLICATION OF COVERS TO BOTTLES AND LIKE CONTAINERS Flled May 22, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 5

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PROCESS AND APPARATUS FQR THE APPLICATION OF COVERS TO BOTTLES AND LIKE CONTAINERS Filed May 22. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 u 2:. 1 11 Fig. 7 in. ll" a I in I t I I 3/10 7 37 5/ Q i 36 3m: I M 'lll' I l 38 4| M 3/19 I 42 I a/m l 39 1' MI 1 I EI I I INVENTOR- ld/L #62 PEa/fim/A Oct. 6, 1964 OF COVERS TO BOTTLES AND LIKE CONTAINERS Filed May 22. 1961 Fig.8

7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOP:

BY mqq d SdvXku- United States Patent PROflESS AND APPARATUS FGR THE APPLICA- TISN 0F CGVERS Tl) BUTTLES AND LlKE CGNTAENERS Wilhelm Pechrnann, Burscheid, near Cologne, Germany, assignor to H. Strnnck & (10., Maschinenfabriir, Cologne-Ehrenfeld, Gennany Filed May 22, 1961, Ser. No. 111,776 Claims priority, application Germany May 23, 1960 35 Claims. (Ci. 534l) The present invention relates to a process and to an apparatus for the application of covers or caps to bottles, cans, cups and like containers. More particularly, the invention relates to a process and to an apparatus which are especially suited for the application of internally or externally threaded caps to externally or internally thread ed tops of bottles and other containers.

An important object of my invention is to provide a very simple apparatus for the application of caps to bottles and like containers in a continuous or intermittent operation and in a fully automatic way.

Another object of the invention is to provide a capping apparatus of the just outlined characteristics which may be utilized for the application of dilferently configurated and/or dimensioned caps to bottles and like containers.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above described type which is constructed and assembled in such a way that the application and fastening of caps to the tops or ends of containers may occur at extremely short intervals so that a very large number of containers may be capped per unit of time, and wherein the caps are automatically aligned uith the containers prior to actual capping so that a breakage or deformation of the caps and/or containers is effectively prevented at all times.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for the application of caps to bottles and like containers which may be rapidly and conveniently converted for use with differently dimensioned caps and/or containers, which insures that each internally or externally threaded cap is drawn tight onto and properly seals the externally or internally threaded end of the container, wherein the containers may remain in upright position and need not be arrested during the capping operation, and whose output may be varied in actual operation so that the apparatus may operate in synchronism with one or more additional apparatus in a bottle handling plant, for example, with a bottle cleaning, a bottle rinsing, a bottle filling and a bottle labelling or dating apparatus.

A concomitant object of the instant invention is to provide a novel cap receiving, holding and applying assembly for use in an apparatus of the above outlined characteristics, this assembly being adapted to perform a number of functions including centering of containers, aligning the caps with the tops of the containers, placing the caps onto the containers, and rotating the caps with respect to the containers so as to establish a meshing and sealing connection between each consecutive cap and the respective container.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above outlined characteristics which may be utilized for closing and sealing of containers whose caps are held in position merely by friction, for the closing of containers which are connected with their caps by a bayonet joint or a like quickly releasable coupling, and for the application of caps whose connection with the containers necessitates a composite axial and angular movement of the cap with respect to the container, or vice versa.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel process for rapidly applying caps to a continuously 3 ,15 L425 Patented Get. 6, 1964 or intermittently advancing group of containers according to which the application of caps may be carried out in such rapid sequence that the containers may form a continuous row in which the containers actually abut each other even though the nature of the connection or coupling between each container and its cap is such that the application of the cap necessitates a composite movement and even though the containers continue their movement during the application of caps thereto.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a process for the application of caps to bottles and like containers according to which a cap may be more or less permanently connected with the respective container and according to which a smooth-walled cap may be formed with internal or external threads or may be otherwise deformed or shaped just prior to or even during its application to a container.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the above outlined characteristics wherein only one or a few component parts must be replaced by differently dimensioned and/ or configurated parts if it is desired to convert the apparatus for use with dilierent caps or containers.

With the above objects in view, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of a process for the application of covers or caps to the ends or tops of bottles and like containers which, in its preferred form, comprises the steps of advancing a row of containers in a first path which preferably comprises an arcuate portion extending about the periphery of a circle through 'less than one full revolution and a substantially tangential portion which merges into the arcuate portion, maintaining the containers in upright position, advancing the caps at a level above the tops of the containers in a second path which at least partially overlaps the first path, preferably that portion of the first path which extends about'the periphery of a circle, spacing the caps in the second path at such distance from each other that the caps consecutively entering the overlapping portion of the second path are at least substantially vertically aligned with the tops of the containers consecutively entering the overlapped portion of the first path, and consecutively'lowering the aligned caps onto the respective tops. If the containers are not fully aligned with the caps while they move in the overlapped portion of the first path, they are consecutively centered prior to the descent of the caps.

According to a modified form of my process, inter,- nally or externally threaded caps are secured to externally or internally threaded tops of aligned containers by rotating the caps during and/or immediately subsequent to their descent onto the tops so that the threads of the caps mesh with the threads of the tops. The downward movement of the caps is preferably continued at a rate of speed which is proportional with the pitch of the meshing threads until the caps are drawn tight on and seal the respective tops.

Just before reaching the overlapping portion of the second path, the caps are preferably advanced in a horizontal plane so that they may be conveniently moved into a position of coaxial alignment with the respective upright containers.

The capping apparatus of my invention comprises conveyor means for advancing the containers in a predetermined path, at least one cover holding and applying assembly including a holder located above the conveyor means and comprising cover engaging means formed with a bore of variable cross-sectional area for the passage of consecutive covers into the containers located therebelow, means for varying the area of the bore, means for reciprocating the holder toward and away from the conveyor means whereby a cover held by the R1 is engaging means may be applied to a container and means for feeding covers to the bore of the engaging means.

Certain other features of the invention reside in the provision of a pluralityof cover holding assemblies so that the apparatus may simultaneously or consecutively apply covers to a large number of containers, in the provision of specially configurated cover engaging means, in the provision of means for forming threads in the successive covers, in the provision of means for deforming selected portions of the covers into sealing or retaining engagement with the containers, and in the provision of means for properly holding and applying non-circular covers to the tops of containers.

In the following detailed description of the drawings and in several of the appended claims, the covers applied by the capping apparatus of this invention will be called caps and the containers will be called bottles to avoid repetitious verbiage, it being understood, however, that this simplified description is not to be construed in a limitative sense since the apparatus is useful for the application of external or internal covers to open tops of many types of contaiers which may consist not only of glass but also of plastic, metal or other suitable material.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic horizontal section through an apparatus with six cap receiving, holding and applying assemblies embodying one form of my invention, the section of FIG. 1 being taken along the line 1-1 of FIG. 2b as seen in the direction of the arrows and certain parts of the apparatus being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. la is a partial horizontal section through the cap receiving assembly showing the details of the cap regulating device;

FIG. 2a is a greatly enlarged fragmentary section through a cap receiving, holding and applying assembly as seen in the direction of the arrows from the line 2a2a of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 2b, 2c and 2a are similar sections showing the assembly of FIG. 2a in different operative positions;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section through a slightly modified assembly which is utilized for the application of substantially conical caps;

FIG. 3a is a side elevational view of an externally threaded cap;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the capping apparatus showing in greater detail one embodiment of the bottle conveyor;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through a modified assembly whose cap holding and applying element comprises a slotted collet-shaped chuck;

FIG. 6 is a similar fragmentary vertical section through a different assembly whose holding element comprises a composite chuck consisting of independent spring-biased segments;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a capping apparatus having a single cap holding assembly which is stationary and cooperates with an intermittently advancing bottle conveyor; and I FIG. 8 is a fragmentary partly elevational and partly sectional view of a modified cap holding assembly which embodies an arrangement for forming threads in the caps and an arrangement for deforming the caps into engagement with beaded bottles.

Referring now in greater detail to the illustrated er. bodiments, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2a-2d, there is shown an apparatus for applying internally threaded substantially cylindrical caps 31 to externally threaded open ends or tops 50' of bottles 50. As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus may com-prise a plurality of cap receiving, aligning, holding and applying assemblies M to M (e.g. six) each of which includes a rotary cap holding and applying element It hereinafter called cap holder. The verttical axes of the holders iii forming part of the assemblies M M are disposed on the periphery of a circle X, and the holders are rotatable about the axis of a vertical drive shaft 11 whose axis coincides With the center of the circle X. The means for rotating the holders 1% in the direction of the arrows 12 comprises the aforementioned shaft 11, a composite driver gear 13 which is coaxially fixed to the shaft 11 and which meshes with six driven gears 15, there being one such gear 15 for each cap holder. It will be seen that the gear 13 constitutes a sun wheel and that the gears 15 constitute the planet wheels of a planetary transmission whose function is to rotate each holder 16 about its own vertical axis in clockwise direction as indicated in FIG. 1 by the arrow 16'. The lower portion 13' (see particularly FIG. 4) of the composite gear 13 assumes the form of a bevel gear which meshes with a bevel gear 14 mounted on a horizontal shaft 14a. The shaft 14a carries a spur gear 14]; which may be driven by a suitable motor through a reducing gearing and a chain or the like, not shown.

As shown in FIGS. 2a2d which illustrate the assembly M in four di ferent operative positions, the driving connection between the holder 10 and the gear 15 of the assembly M comprises an overload coupling 16 of the spring-biased ball type which insures that the gear 15 may be rotated With respect to the holder 10 when the latter offers a predetermined resistance to angular movement. The coupling 16 comprises a plurality of spherical elements or balls 17 each received in a separate radial bore 15a of the gear 15 and each biased against the periphery of the holder 16 by a resilient element in the form of a helical expansion spring 19. The balls 1? are partially receivable in peripheral grooves 18 of the holder 10 and the bias of the springs 19 is normally sufiicient to establish a driving connection between the gear 15 and the holder it). It is possible to replace the individual bores 15a by a continuous annular channel so that the crosssection of the gear 15 assumes the shape of the letter U, and the annular channel may receive a large number of balls 17. Once the holder til otters a predetermined resistance to angular movement, the balls 17 move radially outwardly against the bias of their springs 19 and roll 7 about the periphery of but do not rotate the holder. Such relative movement between a holder 10 and its gear 15 takes place when the holder completes the application of a cap 31 to a bottle 59, i.e., when the cap is sealingly threaded onto the open top 50. As will be explained hereinafter, provision'is made for terminating the connection between the cap and the holder 10 at the exact time when the cap is fully applied to the bottle so that the overload coupling is actually constitutes a rarely utilized safety device which becomes operative only when a cap is stuck in its holder.

The holder It) is mounted at the lower end of and is rotatable with respect to a hollow vertical outer cylinder or sleeve 20. The sleeve 20 is reciprocable in the direction of its vertical axis to move its holder toward and away from a bottle 50 located therebelow. The connection between the holder 10 and its sleeve 20 comprises an antiiriction bearing 21 whose inner and outer races are respectively secured to the holder and to the sleeve, see FIGS. 2zz-Zd, so that the holder is freely rotatable in but shares the axial movements of the sleeve.

The holder 10 is formed with a composite axial bore comprising a smaller-diameter median section 22, and outwardly and downwardly diverging conical lower section 23, and a larger-diameter upper section 24. The section 24 accommodates a cap engaging means in the form of an elastic annular chuck 25 having an axial through bore whose diameter, in uncompressed condition of the chuck, approximates or equals the diameter of the section 22 so that the cross-sectional area of the bore in the chuck 25 is large enough to receive a cap 31. The chuck 25 rests on a preferably conical shoulder of the holder it formed between the sections 22, 24- and is axially compressible by a hard ring 26 so that the diameter and hence the cross-sectional area of its bore is reduced and that it may frictionally engage and rotate a cap 31 which is momentarily located in its bore. The configuration of the section 24 is such that, upon compressive movement of the ring 26 in downward direction, the chuck 25 can only expand radially inwardly in the holder to reduce the diameter of its bore with resultant reduction in the area of its bore and is thereby compelled to engage a cap'3l. The diameter of the central opening in the ring 26 at least equals the diameter of a cap so that the cap may be readily descend through the ring and into the variable-area bore of the chuck 25. The ring may be moved into firm compressive engagement with the upper end face of the chuck by an inner cylinder or sleeve 27 which is axially reciprocably telescoped into the sleeve 29 and whose lower end face bears against an antifriction bearing 28, the latter mounted in such a way that the cylinder 27 need not participate in'angular movements of the holder 10 and of its ring 26.

The sleeve 20 and the cylinder 27 are formed with radially aligned lateral slots 29, 363, respectively, which are located above the holder it) and which form a passage for the entry of consecutive caps 31a, 315, etc. into the bore 32 of the cylinder 27. The bore 32 is coaxially aligned with and is located above the opening of the ring 26 so that the cap 31a, shown in FIG. 2a, may drop by gravity into the bore of the chuck 25, provided that the cap 310 assumes an upright position as shown in FIG. 2b. In FIGS. 2a2d, the slots 29, 30 are provided at the righthand side so that, and referrin to FIG. 1, these slots are located at the outer side of the circle X which renders it possible to deliver the caps 31 through an inclined radially extending feeding means or chute 51. The inclination of the chute 51 (see FIG. 2a) is preferably such that the caps advance by gravity toward and through the slots 29, 3% whenever an assembly assumes the position of the assembly M shown in FIG. 1.

The bore 32 receives a cap advancing member in the form of a ram 33 which is reciprocable in the cylinder 27 and whose lower end face may engage and advance the foremost cap 31a into the bore of the chuck 25. As stated above, the diameter of the section 22 preferably approximates the diameter of the bore in the chuck 25 in the latters unstressed condition, i.e. when the crosssectional area of the bore in the chuck is enlarged, as well as the diameter of the opening in the ring 26 and the diameter of the bore 32. The diameter of the bore 32 is such that the cylinder 27 may slidably receive and that the walls of its bore may properly guide the caps 31 when the caps are being moved into the chuck 25.

The means for axially reciprocating the sleeve 29, the cylinder 27 and the ram 33 comprises a series of roller followers and suitably configurated annular cams which latter are mounted in or integral with a sheet metal or like hollow tubular support 37. The ram 33 carries a radially extending preferably horizontal pivot pin 34 for a roller follower 35 which cooperates with the upper face of an annular cam 36 secured to and extending along the arcuate inner side of the support 37. The pivot pin 34 extends through radially aligned axially parallel cutouts 45, 44 respectively provided in the sleeve 29 and in the cylinder 27. The means for axially reciprocating the cylinder 27 comprises a second radially extending pivot pin 41 which projects through the cutout and carries at its outer end a roller follower 4%) which travels along the upper face of a second annular cam 33 which is rigid with the support 37 and which is located below the cam 36. The ring 26, the cylinder 27, and the reciprocating means 38, as, 41 for the cylinder 27 together constitute a 6 means for varying the cross-sectional area of the bore in the chuck 25.

A lowermost third annular cam 39 guides a roller follower 42 which is mounted on a pivot pin 43 secured to the sleeve it). As shown in FIG. 4, the support 37 coaxially surrounds the shaft ill so that the followers 35, 4t) and 42 are constantly guided by the respective cams. The followers may engage-the upper faces of their respective cams by gravity alone though it is equally possible to provide means, e.g. suitable springs, which constantly bias the ram 33, the cylinder 27 and the sleeve 20 in downward direction so that the followers are compelled to remain in engagement with the upper faces of the cams. Of course, it is equally possible to replace the cams 36, 38 and 39 by cams having channel-shaped guideways for the followers so that the followers are compelled to travel in a predetermined path. Such and other modifications of the means for axially reciprocating the ram 33, the cylinder 27 and the sleeve 20 in a predetermined rhythm will readily occur to persons skilled in the art and, therefore, require no separate illustration.

FIGS. Za-Zd and 4 show by way of example one mode of forcing the cylinder 27 into such firm engagement with the ring 26 that the latter compressses and deforms the elastic chuck 25 for a certain period of time during each revolution of the holder 10, forming part of the assembly M about the shaft 11, the length of the interval during which the chuck 25 is deformed depending on the configuration of the cam 38 which guides the follower 49 of the cylinder 27. The compressing means comprises a resilient element 47 whose ends are secured to two spaced pins as, 48, the latter secured to the sleeve 20 and the former secured to the cylinder 27. The pin 46 extends through aligned radial slots 49, 49a respectively provided in the sleeve 20 and in a crosshead 11a- (see FIG. 4) which is rotatably mounted on or fixed to the shaft 11 and which connects the sleeves 20 of the assemblies Ni -M with each other.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2a-2a, the bottles 5i? are introduced into and advance through the apparatus in an arcuate path 52 which is partially overlapped by the circular path of the caps 31, the circular path of the caps extending along the periphery of the circle X and above the path 52. Referring to FIG. 1, the caps 31 are introduced into the path indicated by the circle X at the station A which is located at the inner end of the cap feeding chute 51. The path 52 of the bottles 5t meets the path X tangentially at the station B, and the paths of the bottles and of the caps move apart at the station C at which the caps are already applied to that the bottles are properly closed and sealed as they move away from the station C. The means for advancing the bottles in the path 52 may assume the form of a chain conveyor,

a conveyor 52:: consisting of articulately connected partly overlapping plates 52b (see FIG. 4), or the like.

The free end of the chute 51 extends into the aligned radial slots 29, 30 of the sleeve 20 and cylinder 27 of the assembly M which is assumed to be located at the station A. FIG. 1 also shows that the chute 51 preferably assumes the configuration of a U-shaped trough which, if desired, may be connected with a vibrator or a like shaking device, not shown, to assist the force of gravity in advancing the caps 31 toward the station A. The foremost cap 310 descends from the open lower end of the chute 51 onto a suitably configurated preferably horizontal supporting plate 54 (see FIG. 2a) which permits the cap to assume a substantially upright position. It will be noted that the caps are at least slightly inclined or tilted as they descend in the chute 51 so that it is necessary to provide some means for returning the caps into upright position in order to insure that the caps may descend in the vertical bores 32 of the cylinders 27. FIG. 1 shows that the chute 51 carries a preferably resilient arcuate straightening or aligning member 55 which is concentric with the circle X and which extends between the stations A and B. This aligning member 55 is located at the level of the slots 29, 3t and extends upwardly from the horizontal plate 54 so that it may resiliently guide a cap Ella as soon as the latter descends onto the plate 54. This plate 54 extends in an arc toward but terminates short of the station B as is indicated at 57 in FTG. 1. The con ter of curvature of the plate 54 coincides with the center of the circle X. The cap Sla is entrained in the direction of the arrow 12 by the inner wall of the cylinder 27 adjacent to the slot 3% in a manner shown in FIG. 1, i.e. the inner wall of the cylinder 27 engages the cap 32a and moves this cap in a horizontal arcuate path along the upper side of the horizontal plate 54 and along the concave inner side of the aligning member 55. FIG. 2b shows the cap 31a in a position it assumes at the station B after the cap has been advanced beyond the forward end 57 of the plate 54 and while it is still held by the resilient aligning member 55.

The apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2a-2d operates as follows:

The position of the holder 142' forming part of the assembly M shown at the station A in FIG. 1 corresponds to the position of the holder 16 in FIG. 2a. The caps 31 advance in the chute 51 in a direction indicated by the arrow 51, and the foremost cap 31a is about to descend onto the supporting plate 54 andis already located in the bore 32 of the cylinder 27. The holders it) are assumed to rotate continuously about the shaft 11 (arrows 12) so that the cap 31a is entrained by the inner wall of the cylinder 27 and is moved along the plate 54 and along the inner side of the aligning member 55 in a manner as described hereinabove. As shown in FIG. 1, the holder 10 is formed with a horizontal cutout 56 for the passage of the plate member and of the aligning member 55 so that the members 54, 55 cannot interfere with the movement of the holder toward the station B.

FIG. 2b illustrates the position assumed by a holder beyond the station B of FIG. 1. The cap 31a is moved past the forward end 57 of the plate 54 and is held solely by the elastic aligning member 55 so that its axis coinsides with the axis 58 of the bottle 50. It will be readily understood that the movement of the conveyor 52:: moving in the path 52 is synchronized with the movement of the holders 10 in the path indicated by the circle X so that the cap 31a and the bottle 5b are at least substantially aligned when a holder assumes the position occupied by the holder 10 shown at the station B.

At the station A, the ram 33 is spaced from the foremost cap 311: and the lower end face of the holder 16 of the assembly M is located at a level above the open tops 59 of the bottles 50 (compare FIGS. 2a and 2b). The ram 33 and the holder 10 retain such positions during their advance from the station A to the station B, i.e. the sole element whose position is changed is the cap 31a which is tilted from an inclined (FIG. 2a) to an upright position (FIG. As soon as a holder 10 reaches the position of the holder shown at the station B, the cam 39 permits the sleeve 26 to descend and to move the holder toward and into abutment with the open top 59 of a bottle 50. Since the holder and the conveyor 52a move at the same speed about the shaft 11 and since the asis 58 of the bottle coincides or nearly coincides with the axis of the cap 31a, the open top 50 of the bottle 50 enters the lowermost section 23 of the bore in the holder and is thereby centered by the comically diverging wall of the section 23.

As stated above, the holder It assumes the position of FIG. 2b at a point beyond the station B because, as shown, the open top 50' of the bottle is already received in the section 23. Once the bottle is properly centered with respect to the cap 31a, the cam 36 permits the ram 33 to descend and to transfer the cap into the bore of the chuck 25, see FIG. 26. As stated above, the weight of the ram 33 is normally sufficient to bring about a descent ofthe ram and to transfer the cap 31a into the chuck 25.

Before proceeding with the description of the operation of my improved apparatus, I wish to point out that the movements imparted to the ram 33, to the cylinder 27 and to the sleeve 20 by their respective axially reciprocating means need not be carried out exactly in a sequence as described hereinabove. For example, it is possible to construct the cam 36 for the ram 33 in such a Way that the ram will begin to descend and will transfer the cap 31a into the chuck 25 simultaneously with the descent of the holder 10 onto the open top of a bottle 50 therebelow, i.e. that the cap 31a reaches the open top 5%) at the exact moment when the bottle 50 is properly centered by abutting against the conically diverging wall of the section 23.

Once the bottle 50 is properly centered so that its axis 58 coincides with the axis of the bore 32, and as soon as the ram 33 causes the cap 31a to descend through the opening of the ring 26 and into the bore of the chuck 25, the cylinder 27 is permitted by its cam 38 to descend under the bias of its spring or springs 47 and to press the ring 26 against the chuck 25 so that the latter is deformed and engages the cap 31a; Since the chuck 25 shares the rotary movement of the holder 10, it causes the cap 31a to rotate in the direction of the arrow 10' and to mesh with the open top 50'. The tension of the spring 47 is increased automatically during the preceding stage of operation, namely, during the descent of the sleeve 2% and of the holder 19 from the position of FIG. 2a into that shown in FIG. 215. As stated above, the pins 4e, 48 are respectively connected with the cylinder 27 and with the sleeve 2%) so that the spring 47 is automatically expanded and stores additional energy when the cam 39 permits the sleeve 20 to perform a downward axial movement with respect to the cylinder 27. Such mounting of the spring 47 is of considerable advantage because the spring need not be tensioned when a deformation of the chuck 25 is not desired. Furthermore, the wear on the elastic chuck 2S and on the ring 26 is reduced substantially if the cylinder 27 is biased in downward direction by a spring rather than by a rigid member, such as a cam and follower assembly or the like. The spring 47 is readily accessible (see FIG. 4) and may be conveniently replaced by a stronger or weaker spring if it should become necessary to change the deformation and hence the cap-retaining force of the chuck 25. The configuration of the earns 38, 39 is such that the cylinder 2'7 is permitted to descend after the sleeve 26 has moved the holder 13 into centering engagement with the bottle 50.

When the cap 31a reaches the position of FIG. 2c, i.e. when the spring 47 has deformed the chuck 25 and the latter rotates the cap with respect to the open top 5%, the assembly begins the last stage in the application of the cap 31a which consists in lowering the cap at a rate of speed which is proportional with the rotational speed of the chuck 25 and with the pitch of the meshing threads so that the cap may be sealingly applied to and closes the open top 5% when the assembly reaches the position of PEG. 2d. The rate of descent of the cap 31a during its rotation with the chuck 25 is controlled by the cam 39 which regulates the axial movements of the sleeve 29 and of its holder 16.

If desired, the chuck 25 may be subjected to some initial compression before the cylinder 27 descends under the bias of the spring i7 so that a certain force is required to move the cap 31a into the bore of the chuck. This can be achieved by such configuration of the cam 38 that the latter permits a limited downward movement of the cylinder 27 (under the bias of the spring 47) as soon as the ram 33 begins to advance the cap 31a through the bore of the ring 26 and into the bore of the chuck 25 9 so that the cap begins to rotate even before it moves into abutment with the open top 50.

A canting or jamming of the cap 31a in the chuck 25 or an improper engagement of the cap with the bottle 56 is practically impossible because the bottle is centered by the wall of the section 23 and because the cap is positively guided during and subsequent to its advance into the chuck. In other words, the threads of the revolving and simultaneously descending cap 31a automatically engage the threads of the upright bottle therebelow, and the rotation of the cap is terminated when it is drawn tight on the top 56' because the cam 38 compels the cylinder 27 to rise against the bias of the spring 47 as soon as the holder 10 and the chuck 25 assume a predetermined lowermost position corresponding to full engagement of the cap 31a with the open top 553.

It will be readily understood that the means for compelling the holder ill and its chuck 25 to continue their downward movement subsequent to a meshing engagement between the cap 31a and the open top d constitutes a very desirable but nevertheless optional feature of my invention since the cap could descend with respect to the chuck as soon as its internal threads engage the external threads of the bottle 5t provided, or" course, that the friction between the cap and the chuck 25 is such that the cap will continue to rotate with the chuck but will be free to perform an axial movement with respect thereto. In other words, the cap 31a could automatically extract itself from the resilient chuck 25 provided that the weight of the bottle 5%) is sufficient to prevent a lifting of the bottle from its conveyor rather than to cause a downward axial movement of the cap. If desired, the bottle may be clamped or otherwise releasably secured to its conveyor 5242. Care should be taken to insure that at least the uppermost end portion of the cap 31:; remains engaged by the chuck 25 until after the cap is drawn tight on the open top 5%. However, and as clearly shown in PEG. 2d, it is usually preferred to move the chuck 2S downwardly with the cap 31a so that the axial position of the cap with respect to the chuck may remain unchanged while the cap screws itself onto the open top 50.

Thus the movement of the caps is in a continuously downward direction, the caps descending the chute 31 by gravity, moving horizontally on the plate 54 as they are entrained by the inner wall of the cylinder 27, and being drawn downwardly as they are rotated by the holder 19 and clutch 25 when the threads of the caps mesh with the threads of the upright bottles, respectively, therebelow, until the caps are tightened on the bottles. At no time are the caps moved upwardly from the moment they are placed in the chute until they are secured to their respective bottles.

As soon as the application of the cap 31a to the bottle 5%} is completed, the parts 1t 2t), 25, 27, 33 return to the position of FIG. 2a. In fact, the ram 33 may begin to move upwardly and back to the position of FIG. 2a or 2b immediately after it advances the cap 31a to the posi tion of FIG. 20. As stated before, the cylinder 27 moves upwardly as soon as the cap 31a is properly secured to the bottle 50 so as to relieve the chuck 25 and that the latter may release the cap before the holder 1% begins to move in upward direction together with the sleeve 2% which is controlled by its cam 3-9.

While it is preferred to move the cylinder 27 in upward direction and to thereby relieve the chuck 25 as soon as the application of the cap 31a to the bottle 59 is completed, such precaution is not absolutely necessary owing to the provision of the aforementioned overload coupling 16 which disconnects the holder from its gear and thereby arrest-s the angular movement of the chuck in response to a predetermined resistance to further rotation offered by the cap 31a. Of course, care must be exercised to adjust the bias of the coupling springs 19 in such a way that the bottle 56 will not begin to rotate lit with the chuck 25 before the driving connection between the gear 15 and the holder It) is terminated. In all instances, the upward movement of the cylinder 27 precedes the upward movement of the sleeve 20 so that the bottle is not lifted from its conveyor 52a. In the event that the coupling 16 becomes disconnected owing to belated lifting of the cylinder 27, the driving connection between the gear 15 and the holder 10 is reestablished in a fully automatic way as soon as the chuck releases the cap 310.

The above described steps must be terminated and the sleeve 20 must again lift the lower end face of the holder it) above the level of the cap 31a (now applied to the bottle 50) before the assembly M reaches the station C (see FIG. 1) so that the closed and sealed bottle may move from the overlapped portion of the path 52 and may continue to advance in the direction of the arrow 60. The assembly M then advances to the station A and the operation is repeated in the same way as described above. Since the assemblies M -M rotate continuously about the axis of the shaft 11, the second cap 31b shown in FIG. 1 will be engaged and applied to a bottle by the assembly M and so forth, i.e. the assembly M will next engage and apply the cap 31a which is separated from the cap 31a by five intermediate caps. It will be noted that the path of the caps 31 (circle X) overlaps an arcuate portion of the path 52 which extends through less than one full revolution (between the stations B and C). In the overlapping portions of their paths, the bottles and the caps advance at the same speed.

Referring back to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the spaces between the adjacent assemblies Ni -M accommodate filler elements 59 whose purpose is to prevent the foremost cap from falling through the forward end of the chute 51 and onto the supporting plate 54 when the chute is not aligned with one of the six assemblies. The filler elements 59 and the assemblies M M form a continuous barrier which consists of sloping portions 5% and shoulders 5912, the latter engaging the consecutive caps 31 at the station A whenever an assembly assumes the position occupied in MG. 1 by the assembly M The shoulders 5912 are defined by the inner walls of the cylinders 27 adjacent to their respective slots 30, and the filler elements 59 extend between the slots 29, 35 of the sleeves 2-0 and cylinders 27 forming part of the adjacent assemblies. Since the sleeves 2t) and the cylinders 27 need not rotate with their respective holders, their slots 29, 34) are always in proper position to permit the passage of the foremost cap 31 into the bore 32 of that cylinder 27 which is located at the station A.

Of course, the filler elements 59 may be omitted if the chute 51 is provided with some regulating means for preventing the foremost cap from descending onto the supporting plate 54 excepting when an assembly is located at the station A. For example, the chute 51 may be provided with an automatic lock in the form of an electromagnetic regulating device or solenoid 512 whose armature 511 normally extends laterally into the interior of the chute through an opening in the chute wall at the exit end of the chute. The coil of the solenoid 512 is energized through the conductors 513, 514 which are electrically connected to a current source (not shown) so as to withdraw the armature 511 from the path of the cap 31b whenever a bottle 50 reaches a predetermined position. After the cap 31]) has left the chute 51 and the bottle Stl has left its aforementioned predetermined position, the circuit in which the solenoid is located is broken and the solenoid coil is deenergized, and the armature is biased by the compression spring 515 coaxial therewith to return to its normal position in which it extends into the interior of the chute to prevent the succeeding cap 31 from leaving the chute. Such regulating arrangement is of considerable advantage because the caps are released only when the conveyor 52a actually advances bottles toward the station B, i.e. the caps will not be wasted and the assemblies Evi -M will merely revolve about the shaft 11 without receiving caps from the chute 5i if the discharge of caps from this chute can be triggered only by the bottles. Thus, if the conveyor 52:: fails to function properly or if the supply of bottles is temporarily exhausted and the operator forgets to arrest the apparatus, the caps will not be discharged from the chute 51 unless a new supply of bottles is placed onto the conveyor and the bottles reach a predetermined position with respect to the assemblies Ni -M Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an assembly M which is identical with the assemblies M M excepting that the lower end face or underside of the ram 33' is formed with a downwardly and outwardly diverging recess 61 which communicates with a channel 62 formed in the ram 33'. The recess 61 receives the upper en portions of substantially conical or pyramidal caps 31', and the channel 62 is connected to a schematically indicated source of vacuum 63, e.g. a fan or the like, which creates subatmospheric pressure in the recess 61 so that the foremost cap 31A is actually sucked into the recess and is held in upright position during its descent with the ram 33. The configuration of the Walls bounding the recess til is complementary to the configuration of the caps 31'. Thus, the assembly M may be utilized for advancing and applying irregularly configurated caps merely by adapting the configuration of the recess 61 and by eventually adapting the shape of the bores in the ring 26 and in the chuck 25 to the configuration of the caps. The supporting plate 54 again serves as a means for compelling the foremost cap 31A to assume an upright position when its upper end portion is sucked into the recess 61. The plate 54 also prevents the foremost cap 31A from dropping into the part of the bore 32 therebelow in that the plate 54 extends through a certain distance toward the station E as was described in connection with FIG. 1.

The rams 33 may be provided with a recess correspond ing to the recess 61 even if they are not connected to a source of vacuum. Such recess may serve as a means for receiving the facetted or otherwise configurated upper end portion of a cap to insure that the cap will not be tilted when it is caused to descend into the chuck 25. If the upper sides of certain types of caps are formed with recesses, grooves or otherwise configurated depressions, the lower end of the ram 33 may be formed with a complementary projection to enter the depression of each consecutive cap and to thereby hold the cap in optimum position for engagement with the chuck.

FIG. 3a shows a diifcrent cap 131 which is formed with a polygonal or cylindrical head 131:: and with an externally threaded stem 131 which latter may be screwed into the internally threaded open top of a bottle, not shown. The assembly for applying caps of the type shown in FIG. 3:! may assume the form shown in FIG.

2a or FIG. 3, depending upon whether it is desired to merely push the caps into the chuck or whether it is desired to hold the caps by suction during their descent in the bore 32. The chuck 25 will engage the head 131x and will rotate the entire cap 131 until the stem 1313 is drawn tight in the internally threaded top of a bottle.

The apparatus of FIG. 4 is assumed to comprise six cap holding assembles including the asesmblies M M which are angularly spaced through 180 degrees from each other and whose sleeves 2! are rigid with the aforementioned crosshead 11a, the latter mounted on the shaft 11. The other four cap holding assemblies were omitted for the sake of clarity. The system including the shaft 11, the gear 13, the crosshead 11a and the six cap holding assemblies may be supported solely by the uprights or columns 37a, 37b of the support 37. Of course, and as shown, the shaft 11 may extend downwardly beyond the gear 13 and may operate a transmission which drives the conveyor 52a for the bottles 50. This transmission may comprise a large sprocket 65 which drives a suitable chain 520 or the like forming part of the conveyor 52a. It is assumed in FIG. 4 that the crosshead 11a and the sprocket 65 are rigid with the shaft 11 so that the caps entrained by the cap holding assemblies rotate at the same speed at which the bottles Sil are advanced in the overlapped portion of the path defined by the inner and outer guide rails 66, 67 between which the bottles travel tangentially toward and thereupon through less than one full revolution about the axis of the shaft 11. The chain 520 is compelled to mesh with the teeth of the driver sprocket by a pair of deflecting sprockets 68, 69 which are located adjacent to the points where the chain 52c respectively meets and leaves the sprocket 65.

The supporting plate 54 and the aligning member 55 were omitted in FIG. 4 for the sake of clarity. Of course, if the rams 33 of the cap holding assemblies are constructed as shown in FIG. 3, the parts 54, 55 may be dispensed with or substantially shortened because the caps 31 may be held by suction during their descent into the chucks.

It should be understood that the earns 35, 38, 39 and the roller followers 35, 40, 42 may be replaced by other reciprocating means for certain parts of the cap holding assemblies. For example, the sleeves 29, the cylinders 27 and the rams 33 may be reciprocated by hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies which are controlled by valves located in the path of the revolving parts, or the reciprocating means may be operated by an electric control system of any suitable design.

The station D shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to the station C of FIG. 1, and the station E of FIG. 4 corresponds to the station B of FIG. 1. Thus, the non-illustrated cap held in the holder 10 of the assembly M is assumed to have been lowered onto the bottle 59 therebelow and the holder 10 of the assembly M is already lifted above the cap applied to the bottle 50A.

The bottles 56 are entrained by motion transmitting brackets which are secured to selected or to each of the conveyor plates 52b.

It is not necessary that the chucks which rotate the caps into meshing engagement with the respective containers always consist of elastically deformable material, such as rubber or the like. As shown in FIG. 5, the modified chuck 125 of the assembly M consists of a metal, e.g. steel, bronze or the like. This modified chuck may also consist of an abrasion-resistant hard synthetic plastic material, if desired. The chuck 125 assumes the shape of a collet which comprises a lower portion or head formed with axially parallel slots 71 so that the head is transformed into a plurality of interconnected prongs or segments 72, and a cylindrical upper portion or neck 73. The slots 71 preferably extend into the upper portion 73 and are of such width that the segments 72 may be moved toward and away from the axis of the chuck 125 to thereby reduce or to increase the diameter of the lower section of the through bore 74 in the chuck. The segments 72 are formed with conical upwardly and outwardly diverging outer faces which are slidable along the strongly inclined downwardly and inwardly tapering Walls of the section 24 forming part of the through bore in the holder 10. The segments 72 tend to move away from each other to assome the position of FIG. 5 by sliding upwardly along the strongly inclined walls of the section 24. When the cylinder 27 is caused to descend, it shifts the entire chuck 125 in downward direction and compels the segments 72 to move toward each other because the segments slide along the walls of the bore section 24 whereby a cap 31 previously introduced into the lower part 75 of the bore '74 by the ram 33 will be held by the segments 72 and will rotate with the holder 10.

The neck portion 73 of the chuck is preferably free to rotate in the cylinder 27 so that the latter need not participate in angular movements of the chuck. The axial length of the bore section 24 is preferably selected in such a way that a cap 31 is properly held in the bore section 75 before the lower end face 76 of the chuck 125 comes into abutment with the shoulder 77 of the holder it which shoulder constitutes the bottom end wall of the bore section 24.

As stated above, the chuck 125 may automatically return to the unstressed condition of FIG. as soon as the cylinder 27 is lifted by its cam 38 because the segments 72 are assumed to move radially away from each other as soon as the cylinder 27 permits such radial movements. Of course, it is equally possible to provide a positive connection between the chuck 125 and the cylinder 27, e.g. through the bearing 28; in such instances, the exact degree of inclination of the walls of the bore section 24 is of lesser importance. Alternately, the arrangement may be such that the segments 72 will automatically tend to move in upward direction and that the chuck is additionally connected with the cylinder 27 in order to insure that the chuck will release a cap when the latter is properly ap plied to the open top of a container as soon as the cylinder 27 begins to move in upward direction. In other words, a positive connection between the cylinder 27 and the chuck 125 may constitute a safety measure to insure that the chuck will be lifted with respect to the holder even if the resiliency of its segments 72 should diminish after an extended period of actual use.

In accordance with a further modification of my invention which is analogous to that shown in FIG. 5 and which, therefore, needs no separate illustration, the slots 71 may open into the upper end face and may extend close to but short of the lower end face '76 of the chuck. The conical outer faces are then provided on the upper portion of the chuck and cooperate with the surrounding portion of the holder in such a way that the caps will be engaged and retained in response to an upward movement of the chuck with respect to its holder. The persons skilled in the art will readily conceive additional modifications in the construction of the chuck, e.g. to form the chuck with two conical portions or to make the chuck of two or more superimposed independent annular portions each of which may engage a selected portion of the cap, particularly if the cap comprises several portions of different diameter.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a cap holding and applying assembly M which comprises a chuck 225 including a series of annularly arranged separate segments 80. These segments are biased away from each other by resilient elements in the form of helical springs 81. As in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the segments 80 are formed with conical upwardly and outwardly diverging outer faces which are in sliding engagement with the conical wall of the bore section 24. The springs 81 insure that the chuck 225 consisting of segments 89 will expand by moving upwardly in the bore section 24- as soon as the cylinder 27 is withdrawn by the cam 38. When a cap 31 is properly centered in the bore 32 of the cylinder 27, the ram 33 is caused to descend and to move the cap into the bore of the chuck 225, whereupon the segments 80 are moved toward the axis of the chuck in response to downward movement of the cylinder 27 to engage and to simultaneously rotate the cap. The inclination of the wall bounding the bore section 24 is preferably sufiicient to insure automatic expansion of the chuck 225 as soon as the cylinder 27 reassumes the position of FIG. 6.

As stated before, the chuck may consist of several independent superimposed sections or portions each of which may assume the form of the chuck 225. In such instances, the composite chuck may properly engage and hold two or more differently dimensioned and/or configurated peripheral zones of a more complicated cap. This is of particular advantage if the configuration of a cap is such that the cap cannot be properly guided and retained if the chuck engages only a portion of its periphery. Such composite chuck comprises two or more superimposed groups of annularly arranged segments 80, and

each group comprises separate springs 81 so that the seg ments of the adjacent groups are radially movable with respect to each other.

In its simplest form, the apparatus of my invention comprises a single cap receiving, holding and applying assembly which need not rotate about an axis distant from its own axis. In such instances, the bottles 50 are delivered intermittently and are arrested whenever a bottle is aligned with the cap holding assembly. Of course, the bottles may be advanced intermittently even if the apparatus comprises two or more rotary cap receiving, holding and applying assemblies. The application of caps to the bottles then occurs while the containers and the assemblies are at a standstill. For example, and referring to FIG. 1, the six assemblies M M may remain stationary and each thereof may receive caps from a separate chute 51. The bottles are then advanced intermittently so that a new bottle is moved under each assembly during each intermittent advance of the bottle conveyor in the path 52 and that six bottles with caps fully applied thereto are removed from the apparatus whenever the bottle conveyor is set in motion between a pair of consecutive stops.

FIG. 7 illustrates a capping apparatus which comprises a single cap holding assembly M This assembly is stationary, i.e. it does not revolve about the axis of the drive shaft 11. The crosshead 11a is replaced by a cylindrical bearing member 311a which rotatably receives the shaft 11 and is axially movable therealon g. This bearing memher is formed with vertically spaced arms 31111" which support the assembly M and with an arm 311a whose bifurcated outer end portion engages the column 37a to hold the bearing member against rotation but to permit axial movements of the bearing member. The tubular suport 37 is formed with a coaxial hub 37' which is rotatable on a shoulder of the shaft 11. The means for rotating the shaft 11 and the support 37 is not shown in FIG. 7. The support 37 again carries annular cams 36, 38, 39 for the followers 35, 4t), 42, respectively; these followers operate the component parts of the assembly M in the same manner as described in connection with FIGS. 2a-2d. The chute 5-1 delivers internally threaded caps (not shown) which are consecutively applied to the bottles Whenever a bottle 59 assumes the position shown in FIG. 7, is. in which its top 56) is coaxially aligned with the stationary assembly M The revolving support 37 causes the earns 36, 38, 39 to reciprocate the respective followers in a predetermined sequence so as to introduce the caps into the chuck of the assembly M to compress the chuck, to lower the assembly onto the bottle 56 and to screw the cap onto the top 50' owing to the engagement of gear 15 with the revolving driver gear 13. The bottle so is intermittently advanced by a composite conveyor including a conveyor 352a, a pair of suitable configurated turnstiles 352b, and a conveyor 352a" in rhythm with the reciprocatory movements of the parts controlled by the followers 35, 40, 42. The means for synchronizing intermittent movements of the conveyors 352a, 352a" and of the turnstiles 352b with the rotary movement of the support 37 forms no part of this invention and, therefore, is not shown in the drawings.

The simplified capping apparatus of FIG. 7 may be modified by replacing the cams 36, 38, 3? and the rotary support 37 by a hydraulic or pneumatic system to reciprocate the component parts of the assembly M Such fluid-operated system may comprise three double-acting cylinder-piston arrangements for respectively reciprocating the entire assembly M toward and away from a bottle 59, for reciprocating the cylinder of the assembly M in order to expand the chuck, and for reciprocating the ram of the assembly M so as to move the foremost cap into the chuck.

I will now describe a further modification of my proc ess which may be practiced with each of the various cap receiving, holding and applying assemblies that are shown in the drawings. The process may be resorted to for the application of originally smooth-walled caps and for simultaneous formation of internal or external threads on the caps prior to actual application of the caps to the bottles. Also, the process and apparatus may be used for the application of caps to bottles whose open tops are formed with external annular or arcuate beads and for subsequent bending of the open end portions of the applied caps about the beads so as to form a stabler connection between each bottle and the respective cap. in both instances, the chuck 25, 125 or 225 is replaced by or combined with additional instrumentalities which will cut or roll a thread into the caps or which will deform the caps about the beads provided on the open tops of the containers. The thread cutting instrumentalities may assume the form of rollers and/or balls which impress into the material of the caps spiral grooves to form a thread of requisite pitch, and such rollers and/or balls may simultaneously serve as a means for deforming t e end portions of the caps about the beads or otherwise shaped projections on the bottles.

FIG. 8 shows a cap holding assembly M wherein some of the parts already described in connection with FIGS. 1-7 we omitted for the sake of clarity. Unthreadcd caps 431 are delivered by gravity through a chute 451 into the bore 432 of the cylinder 4.27 wherein a reciprocahie ram 433 advances the foremost cap 531a into the range of a thread forming roller 85 which is swingabiy mounted on a bracket 36 of the cylinder 's-2'7 and is rotatable by a friction roller 87 cooperating with a dri' er roller 88. The rollers 85, 87 may be axially shifted by the roller 88 against the bias of a spring 89 so that the roller 85 may form a helical thread in the tubular wall of the cap 431a. i

The annular lowermost portion 431a of the cap 431a may be bent inwardly by means of a deforming roller 99 which is pivotably supported in a second bracket 91 of the cylinder 4'27 and which is rotated by a friction roller 92 cooperating with the driver roller 8%. As the roller 38 descends, it not only rotates the friction roller 532 but it also moves the deforming roller 9%) radially inwardly so as to cause inward deflection of the annular end portion @310. The supporting sleeve 93 for the common shaft M of the rollers 99, $2 is pivotable about a pin 95 mounted in the bracket 91. The means for rotating the driver roller 38 and for shifting this roller axially along the cylinder 427 is not shown in FIG. 8. It will be readily understood that the frictionally engaging rollers 37, 88, 92 may be replaced by a suitable sys--; tem of spur gears or bevel gears without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The bottle t) shown in PEG. 7 is formed with a bead 59 just below its threaded top 59. The end portion 31m of the cap shown in FIG. 8 may be deformed into engagement with the underside of this bead.

it will be seen that i provide a process and an apparatus which may be practiced and utilized in connection with all types of bottles and caps therefor. in addition, the apparatus may be constructed and arranged in such a way that its output corresponds to the output of certain other apparatus utilized in various bottle handling or processing plants such as breweries, canneries and others. For example, the output of the capping apparatus may be selected in such a way that the apparatus may be placed in series with a bottle washing, a bottle sterilizing, a bottle filling and a bottle labelling machine whereby a single bottle conveyor may advance the bottles to and beyond the various apparatus.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting. features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A process for the application of caps to threaded tops of bottles and like containers, comprising advancing a row of containers in a predetermined path; consecutively forming threads on the caps; moving the threaded caps onto the tops of the consecutive containers; rotating the threaded caps relative to the respective containers; and simultaneously lowering the caps at a rate proportional with the pitch of the threads whereby the caps are screwed onto the tops of the respective containers.

2. A process for the application of caps to beaded and externally threaded tops of bottles and like containers, comprising advancing 'a row of containers in a. predetermined path; consecutively forming threads on the caps; moving the threaded caps onto the tops of the consecutive containers; rotating the threaded caps relative to the respe tive containers and simultaneously lowering the caps at a rate proportional with the pitch of the threads where.- by the caps are screwed onto the tops of the respective containers; and deforming selected portions of the caps about the beads of the respective containers.

3. An apparatus for the application of covers to containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in a predetermined path; at least one cover receiving, holding and applying assembly including a holder located above said advancing means and comprising cover engaging means formed with bore means of variable cross-sectional area for the passage of consecutive covers onto the containers located therebelow, said engaging means holding a cover received in said bore means when the area of said bore means is reduced and said engaging means permitting a cover to pass therethrough when-the area of said bore means is enlarged, means for varying the area of said bore means, and means for reciprocating said holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held by said engaging means may be applied to a container located therebelow} and means for feeding covers to the bore means of said engaging means.

4. An apparatus for the application of covers to containcrs comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in a predetermined path; at least one cover receiving, holding and applying assembly including a holder located above said advancing means and formed with a vertical bore for the passage of consecutive covers, said holder comprising an elastic annular chuck formed with a bore aligned with said first named bore and having a cross-sectional area normally large enough to permit the passage of consecutive covers, means for deforming said chuck and for thereby reducing the area of said last named here so that a cover received in said last named bore is held by the chuck, and means for reciprocating said holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held by said chuck may be applied to a container located therebelow; and means for feeding covers to the bore of said holder above said chuck.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the bore of said holder comprises a larger-diameter upper section and said chuck is snugly received in said upper section, said deforming means comprising a vertically reciprocablemember having a lower end portion receivable in said upper section, resilient means for biasing said member into deforming engagement with said chuck, and means for lifting said member against the bias of said resilient means.

6. An apparatus for the application of threaded covers to the threaded tops of containers comprising, in nation, means for advancing the containers in upright p 0- sition in a predetermined path; at least one cover receiving, holding and applying assembly includin a holder member having a vertical axis of rotation and located above said advancing means, said holder member formed with a coaxial through bore and comprising a substantially annular radially inwardly deformable chuck having a bore of variable cross-sectional area and aligned with said first named bore so that the covers consecutively introduced into the bore of said holder member may pass through said last named bore, means for deforming the chuck and for thereby reducing the area of said last named bore whereby a cover received in the last named bore is held in the chuck, means for reciprocating said holder member toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held by said chuck is applied to the top of a container located therebelow, said chuck con nected to and rotatable with said holder member and said assembly further comprising means for rotating said holder member whereby a cap applied to the top of a container located below said holder member is screwed onto the top; and means for feeding covers to the bore of said holder member above said chuck.

7. An apparatus for the application of threaded covers to the threaded tops of containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in upright position in a predetermined path; at least one cover receiving, holding and applying assembly including a holder member having a vertical axis of rotation and located above said advancing means, said holder member formed with a coaxial through bore and comprising a substantially annular radially inwardly deformable chuck having a bore of variable cross-sectional area and aligned with said first named bore so that the covers consecutively introduced into the bore of said holder member may pass through said last named bore, means for deforming the chuck and for thereby reducing the area of said last named bore whereby a cover received in the last named bore is held in the chuck, means for reciprocating said holder member toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held by said chuck is applied to the top of a container located therebelow, said chuck connected to and rotatable with said holder member and said assembly further comprising means for rotating said holder member whereby a cap applied to the top of a container located below said holder member is screwed onto the top, said rotating means comprising a gear member coaxial with said holder member and overload coupling means for drivingly connecting said members, said coupling means permitting independent rotation of said gear member in response to predetermined resistance to rotation offered by said holder member; and means for feeding covers to the bore of said holder member above said chuck.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said overload coupling means comprises at least one springbiased rolling element mounted in one of said members and a groove for said rolling element formed in the other member.

9. An apparatus for the application of covers to containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in a predetermined path; at least one cover receiving, holding and applying assembly including a holder located above said advancing means and comprising cover engaging means formed with bore means of variable cross-sectional area for the passage of consecutive covers onto the containers located therebelow, said engaging means holding a cover received in said bore means when the area of said bore means is reduced and said engaging means permitting a cover to pass therethrough when the area of said bore means is enlarged, means for varying the area of said bore means, and means for reciprocating said holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held by said engaging means may be applied to a container located therebelow, said reciprocating means comprising a hollow cylinder having a lower end connected with said holder and formed with a cover admitting slot; and means for feeding covers through said slot and into the bore means of said engaging means.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, comprising means for rotating said holder about the axis of said cylinder, the connection between said cylinder and said holder comprising antifriction bearing means so that the holder is rotatable with respect to the cylinder.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a cover advancing member vertically reciprocably received within said cylinder and means for reciprocating said advancing member with respect to said cylinder whereby a cover admitted through said slot is advanced by said member into the bore means of said engaging means.

12. An apparatus for the application of covers to the tops of containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in upright position in a predetermined path; at least one cover receiving, holding and applying assembly including a holder having a vertical axis and formed with a through bore, a radially inwardly deformable chuck connected with said holder and having a bore of variable cross-sectional area aligned with said first named bore, the area of said last named bore normally of such magnitude that a cover may pass therethrough and said chuck deformable under pressure to reduce the area of its bore whereby a cover momentarily located in said last named bore is releasably held by said chuck, means for reciprocating said holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held in said chuck may be applied to a container located there below, said reciprocating means comprising an outer cylinder having a lower end connected with said holder and formed with a cover-admitting slot, means for deforming said chuck comprising an inner cylinder axially movably telescoped into said outer cylinder and having a lower end reciprocable into and from deforming engagement with said chuck, said inner cylinder formed with a coveradmitting slot aligned with said first named slot, and a cover advancing ram reciprocably received in said inner cylinder for moving covers admitted through said slots into the bore of said chuck; and means for feeding covers through said slots and into the bore of said holder above said chuck.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, further comprising first antifriction bearing means between the lower end of said inner cylinder and said chuck, second antifriction bearing means between the lower end of said outer cylinder and said holder, and means for rotating said holder and said chuck with respect to said cylinders.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, further comprising means for reciprocating said cylinders and said ram in a predetermined rhythm with respect to each other.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said last named reciprocating means comprises first, second and third follower means respectively connected with said outer cylinder, with said inner cylinder and with said ram, and separate cam means for each of said follower means.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein each of said follower means comprises at least one Substantially horizontal pin respectively connected to said cylinders and to said ram and a cam-engaging roller mounted on each of said pins.

17. An apparatus for the application of covers to the tops of containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in upright position in a predetermined path; at least one cover receiving, holding and applying assembly including a holder having a vertical axis and formed with a through bore, a radially inwardly deformable chuck connected with said holder and having a bore of variable cross-sectional area aligned with said first named bore, the area of said last named bore normally of such magnitude that a cover may pass therethrough and said chuck deformable under pressure to reduce the area of its bore whereby a cover momentarily located in said last named bore is releasably held by said chuck, means for reciprocating said holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held in said chuck may be applied to a container located therebelow, said reciprocating means comprising an outer cylinder having a lower end connected with said holder and formed with a cover-admitting slot, means for deforming said chuck comprising an inner cylinder axially movably telescoped into said outer cylinder and having a lower end reciprocable into and from deforming engagement with said chuck, said inner cylinder formed with a cover-admitting slot aligned with said first named slot, resilient means for permanently biasing said inner cylinder into deforming engagement with said chuck, means for moving said inner cylinder against the bias of said resilient means, and a cover advancing ram reciprocably received in said inner cylinder for moving covers admitted through said slots into the bore of said chuck; and means for feeding covers through said slots and into the bore of said holder above said chuck.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said resilient means comprises at least one spring having an upper end connected with said inner cylinder and a lower end connected with said outer cylinder whereby a downward movement of said outer cylinder with respect to said inner cylinder automatically increases the bias of said spring.

19. An apparatus for the application of covers to the tops of containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in a predetermined path having an arcuate portion extending along the periphery of a circle; a plurality of interconnected cover receiving, holding and applying assemblies each including a holder located above said advancing means and comprising a chuck formed with a bore of variable cross-sectional area for the passage of consecutive covers onto the containers located therebelow, said chuck holding a cover received in its bore when the area of said bore is reduced and said chuck permitting a cover to pass therethrough when the area of its bore is enlarged, each of said assemblies further comprising means for varying the area of the bore in the respective chuck and means for reciprocating the respective holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held by the respective chuck may be applied to a container located therebelow; means for rotating said assemblies about a vertical axis coinciding with the center of said circle at a speed at which the containers are advanced in the arcuate portion of said path so that said holders are vertically aligned with containers consecutively entering said arcuate portion; and means for feeding covers to said chucks.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, comprising a fixed tubular support surrounding said assemblies, said reciprocating means comprising cam means mounted on said support and follower means operatively connected with each of said holders and tracking said cam means to thereby reciprocate the holders when said assemblies rotate with respect to said cam means.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said feeding means comprises an inclined chute for permitting gravitational descent of covers to said assemblies.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein each of said reciprocating means comprises an outer cylinder formed with a radial slot and connected with the respective holder and said means for varying the areas of bores in said chucks comprises an inner cylinder telescoped into the respective outer cylinder and having a bore aligned with the bore of the respective chuck, said inner cylinders formed with radial slots aligned with the slots of the respective outer cylinders and said chute having a lower end projecting into the aligned slots of the inner and outer cylinders of the consecutive assemblies when the assemblies rotate about said axis so that each chuck may receive a cover before the respective assembly advances above a container in the arcuate portion of said path.

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22, further comprising an arcuate supporting plate extending from the lower end of said chute in a direction in which said assemblies rotate for returning covers consecutively dis- 2i) 7 charged by the chute into upright position before the covers enter the bores of the respective chucks, the center of curvature of said supporting plate coinciding with the center of said circle.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said supporting plate is disposed in a horizontal plane. 7

25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, further comprising an arcuate aligning member extending upwardly from said supporting plate and located at the level of said slots for guiding the covers along said supporting plate.

26. An apparatus for the application of covers to the tops of containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in a predetermined path having an arcuate portion extending along the periphery of a circle; a plurality of interconnected cover receiving, holding and applying assemblies each including a holder located above said advancing means and comprising a chuck formed with a bore of variable cross-sectional area for the passage of consecutive covers onto the containers located therebelow, said chuck holding a cover received in its bore when the area of said bore is reduced and said chuck permitting a cover to pass therethrough when the area of its bore is enlarged, each of said assemblies further comprising means for varying the area of the bore in the respective chuck and means for reciprocating the respective holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held by the respective chuck may be applied to a container located therebelow; means for rotating said assemblies about a vertical axis coinciding with the center of said circle at a speed at which the containers are advanced in the arcuate portion of said path so that said holders are vertically aligned with containers consecutively entering said arcuate portion; means for feeding covers to said chucks; and filler means between said assemblies for preventing the discharge of covers by said feeding means when the latter is not aligned with one of said assemblies.

'27. An apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein each of said assemblies is formed with shoulders projecting radially outwardly from said circle for engaging and for entraining covers from said feeding means when the assemblies rotate about said axis.

28. An apparatus for the application of covers to the tops of containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in upright position in a predetermined path; at least one cover receiving, holding and applying assembly including a holder having a vertical axis and formed with a through bore, a radially inwardly deformable chuck connected with said holder and having a bore of variable cross-sectional area aligned with said first named bore, the area of said last named bore normally of such magnitude that a cover may pass therethrough and said chuck deformable under pressure to reduce the area of its bore whereby a cover momentarily located in said last named bore is releasably held by said chuck, means for reciprocating said holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held in said chuck may be applied to a container located therebelow, said reciprocating means comprising an outer cylinder having a lower end connected with said holder and formed with a cover-admitting slot, means for deforming said chuck comprising an inner cylinder axially movably telescoped into said outer cylinder and having a lower end reciprocable into and from deforming engagement with said chuck, said inner cylinder formed with a cover-admitting slot aligned with said first named slot, and a cover advancing ram reciprocably received in said inner cylinder for moving covers admitted through said slots into the bore of said chuck, said ram having an underside of a configuration complementary to the configuration of the covers so that a portion of each cover admitted to the bore of said inner cylinder may be received in said ram; and means for feeding covers through said slots and into the bore of said holder above said chuck.

29. An apparatus as set forth in claim 28, wherein said ram is formed with a channel extending to a recess formed in the underside thereof, and further comprising a source of vacuum connected with said channel so that a cover may be retained by suction in said recess.

30. An apparatus for the application of covers to the tops of containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in a predetermined path having an arcuate portion extending along the periphery of a circle; a plurality of interconnected cover receiving, holding and applying assemblies each including a holder located above said advancing means and comprising a chuck formed with a bore of variable cross-sectional area for the passage of consecutive covers onto the containers located therebelow, said chuck holding a cover received in its bore when the area of said bore is reduced and said chuck permitting a cover to pass therethrough when the area of its bore is enlarged, each of said assemblies further comprising means for varying the area of the bore in the respective chuck and means for reciprocating the respective holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held by the respective chuck may be applied to a container located there'oelow; means for rotating said assemblies about a vertical axis coinciding with the center of said circle at a speed at which the containers are advanced in the arcuate portion of said path so that said holders are vertically aligned with containers consecutively entering said arcuate portion; and means for feeding covers to said chucks, said feeding means comprising means for regulating the discharge of covers to said assemblies.

31. An apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein said regulating means is operated by said container advancing means.

32. An apparatus for the application of covers to containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in a predetermined path; at least one cover receiving, holding and applying assembly including a holder located above said advancing means and comprising cover engaging means formed with bore means of variable cross-sectional area for the passage of consecutive covers onto the containers located therebelow, said engaging means holding a cover received in said bore means When the area of said bore means is reduced and said engaging means permitting a cover to pass therethrough when the area of said bore means is enlarged, means for varying the area of said bore means, and means for reciprocating said holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held by said engaging means may be applied to a container located therebelow; means for feeding covers to the bore means of said engaging means; and means connected with said assembly for cutting threads into the covers.

33. An apparatus for the application of covers to containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in a predetermined path; at least one cover receiving, holding and applying assembly including a holder located above said advancing means and comprising cover engaging means formed with bore means of 2.2; variable cross-sectional area for the passage of consecutive covers onto the containers located therebelow, said engaging means holding a cover received in said bore means when the area of said bore means is reduced and said engaging means permitting a cover to pass therethrough when the area of said bore means is enlarged, means for varying the area of said bore means, and means for reciprocating said holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held by said engaging means may be applied to a container located therebelow; means for feeding covers to the bore means of said engaging means; and means for deforming the covers about the tops of the respective containers.

34. A process for the application of threaded covers to the threaded tops of bottles and like containers, comprising advancing the containers in a first path and maintaining the containers in upright position; consecutively lowering the covers into a second path which merges into and at least partly overlaps the first path by permitting the covers to descend exclusively by gravity from a level above the tops of the containers until the covers are substantially vertically aligned with the tops of the respective containers; and rotating the consecutive covers by simultaneously imparting a downwardly directed movement thereto so as to bring the covers into mesh with the respective tops whereby the covers are automatically compelled to descend until they are fully applied to the respective tops.

35. An apparatus for the application of covers to containers comprising, in combination, means for advancing the containers in a predetermined path; at least one cover receiving, holding and applying assembly including a holder located above said advancing means and comprising cover engaging means having bore means of variable cross-sectional area, said holder having cover-admitting opening means located at a level above said bore means so that the bore means may receive covers admitted through said opening means and that the covers may consecutively descend through said bore means onto the containers located therebelow, said engaging means holding a cover received in said bore means when the area of said bore means is reduced and said engaging means permitting a cover to descend therethrough when the area of said bore means is enlarged, means for varying the area of said bore means, and means for reciprocating said holder toward and away from said advancing means whereby a cover held by said engaging means may be applied to a container located therebelow; a chute located at a level above the tops of the containers; and means for feeding covers from said chute through said opening means into the bore means of said engaging means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,569,948 Calleson Jan. 19, 1926 1,835,334 Risser Dec. 8, 1931 1,835,335 Risser Dec. 8, 1931 2,451,273 Bright Oct. 12, 1948 

1. A PROCESS FOR THE APPLICATION OF CAPS TO THREADED TOPS OF BOTTLES AND LIKE CONTAINERS, COMPRISING ADVANCING A ROW OF CONTAINERS IN A PREDETERMINED PATH; CONSECUTIVELY FORMING THREADS ON THE CAPS; MOVING THE THREADED CAPS ONTO THE TOPS OF THE CONSECUTIVE CONTAINERS; ROTATING THE THREADED CAPS RELATIVE TO THE RESPECTIVE CONTAINERS; AND SIMULTANEOUSLY LOWERING THE CAPS AT A RATE PROPORTIONAL WITH THE PITCH OF THE THREADS WHEREBY THE CAPS ARE SCREWED ONTO THE TOPS OF THE RESPECTIVE CONTAINERS. 